Week 2 fantasy booms, busts and breakouts

Each week our gaggle of Yahoo fanalysts show their hands and reveal their top booms, busts and breakouts. Gaze into the crystal ball and list your picks, using the strict rules set, in the comment section below.

Among players under 50 percent started in Yahoo leagues, the loudest BOOM from Week 2 comes from ________.

Scott – The CHRIS HOGAN bandwagon quickly disassembled after a quiet Week 1. Time to get back on board. The Saints secondary was embarrassed on Monday night in Minnesota, and now they get the well-rested and well-prepared Patriots — a team famous for bounce-back spots. Hogan needs to be a major part of this passing game, and this week he’ll find plenty of space. Bring your pinball quarters.

Brad – JOHN BROWN. Everyone is understandably despondent over the David Johnson news, but the RB’s absence and newly employed RBBC will force Carson Palmer to air it out 45-55 times. Against an Indy secondary that surrendered a 10.6 ypa to Jared Goff-ul and off a very quiet nine-target game, Brown races past Rashaan Melvin and Co. en route to a top-20 fantasy day.

Andy — I’m the last guru to write a blurb here, and I believe the rules of this feature require me to give you a new name. But let’s ditch the rules just this once. The correct/best answer here is CHRIS HOGAN. I’m going to simply echo Scott’s thoughts. Hogan is ultimately going to be a huge piece of the Patriots’ offense, and he has an ideal matchup against New Orleans on deck. New England gets extra prep time for this one, while the Saints are coming off a short week. Start Hogan with confidence.

Flip side, among players started in over 50 percent of Yahoo leagues, the biggest Week 2 BUST will be ______.

Brad – ISAIAH CROWELL. In Week 1, Crowell repeatedly slammed into the Steel Curtain without much success. His 0.9 YAC per attempt was the lowest for RBs who saw at least 50 percent of the team’s snaps. This week matched against an inflexible Baltimore front that allowed just 3.6 yards per carry to Cincinnati RBs last Sunday, he could match his output from his last appearance in The Charm City (53 total yards, 0 touchdowns).

Andy — CARLOS HYDE is coming off a semi-useful performance against Carolina (77 yards, 6 REC, no score), but let’s hope you can find a better option in Week 2. Hyde is traveling to Seattle to face one of the league’s elite defensive fronts. I can see no realistic path to a big game for Hyde. The Seahawks held Green Bay to just 84 rushing yards on 28 attempts last week (3.0 YPC).

Scott – I’m petrified to run DEZ BRYANT out at Denver. The Broncos have the best cornerbacks in the league, and the Cowboys organization has struggled to find creative ways to move Bryant away from bad matchups. Consider this as much a vote against Jason Garrett as it is against Bryant.

Chuck a Hail Mary, the one deep player (under 15% started) you believe BREAKS OUT is ______.

Brad – ALVIN KAMARA. The Saints and Pats have their Smith & Wessons cocked, locked and loaded. With an over/under set at 55.5, a shootout of wonderful fantasy proportions is sure to occur in New Orleans. With that in mind, it’s conceivable heads up the committee for the second consecutive week (WK1 Snaps: Kamara -31; Ingram – 26; Peterson – 9). His explosiveness and versatility matched with New England’s highly suspect defense could lead to banner numbers in range of 80-plus combined yards and a score.

Scott – JAMES WHITE isn’t an explosive player, but he’s a reliable one, and that’s what New England wants in its backfield. Sure, I’m picking on the Saints again; why not go where the points are? White quietly collected 13 touches in the opening game, while Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead scarcely played. Although Mike Gillislee enjoyed the short scores (always a dicey thing to bet on), it’s White who’s atop this team’s circle of trust. New England’s likely to post a big number in the Big Easy, and I want as many bites of the apple as I can get.

Andy — Yet again, Scott takes the guy I’d wanted. This time, I’ll give you a different name: CHRIS CARSON. He certainly passed the eye test in the opener at Green Bay, rushing for 39 yards on six carries and breaking off the best run of the day for Seattle. I’m a believer. Thomas Rawls should return this week, but Carson is clearly going to get touches. Eddie Lacy, you’re dismissed.